The Long Range Planning Context

Planning for the decade ahead is a daunting task. The nature of the society in which we live, compounded by economic, international, environmental, and internal issues and haunted by political and economic realities is so complex it seems as if the real danger in planning lies in proceeding too quickly.

The Long Range Plan will help Winona State prepare for the future by analyzing what we do know about what lies ahead and creating plans which include the opportunities for considering alternate paths. This would allow a quicker, more rational response to possible contingencies should they occur.

The context of the long range plan is formed by the assumptions which can be made about the external, internal, and system-wide issues that will affect WSU either directly or indirectly within the next ten years and beyond.

External Assumptions. The external assumptions form the "big picture" for Winona State's long range planning. Some of the statements are mutually reinforcing, while others present contradictory views. The external assumptions are intended to promote thinking about social, demographic, and economic issues and to prompt readers to assess the extent to which the issues will continue or what impact they may have.

Internal Assumptions. More immediate to Winona State's Long Range Planning Process than the external issues identified above, the internal assumptions form the context for planning through assumptions about the University's enrollment, staffing, programs, resources, and facilities. These assumptions invite readers to identify ways to maximize opportunities while minimizing threats.

System Assumptions. As Winona State is part of the seven-university Minnesota State University System, assumptions about the system and its future are very relevant to Winona State's planning process. Presently, while the Minnesota State University System is publicly committed to improving quality, it is also facing legislative pressure to merge with one or more of the state's other systems of higher education. Clearly, all of this information is relevant to our planning.